Chute with slot means for sorting in-leads



March 21, 1950 c, MOKINSEY I 2,501,403

CHUTE WITH SLOT MEANS FOR SORTING mums Fi led March 7, i947 2Sheets-Sheet 1 30 I /a 2/ L 26 22 2 /3 29 g V .//A\3ZV 5 Inve nTor:

35 g Clarence McKihse Patented Mar. 21, 1950 CHUTE WITH SLOT MEANS FORSORTING IN-LEADS Clarence E. McKinsey, Painesville, Ohio, assignor toGeneral Electric Company, a corporation 01 New York Application March 7,1947, Serial No. 733,046

3 Claims. (01. 209--85) My invention relates, in general, to apparatusfor automatically packaging in-leads for electric incandescent lamps,electronic tubes and similar devices, and more particularly to a sortingarrangement for such apparatus which will sort out and discardincompletely and imperfectly formed in-leads. The present application isa continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 610,153,filed August 10, 1945, and assigned to the same assignee as the presentapplication.

In my said copending application I have disclosed and claimed apparatusfor automatically loading endwise into cartridges multi-section inleadsof the type having a weighted end. However, in addition to loadingperfectly formed inleads into the cartridges, the disclosed apparatuswill also load into the cartridges such imperfect in-leads as may beformed from time to time by the wire-welding machine on which theseinleads are customarily manufactured. Obviously, the packaging of onlyperfectly formed in-leads is highly desirable since otherwise animperfect in-lead would result in the subsequent formation of adefective lamp or radio tube stem.

It is one object of my invention, therefore, to provide apparatus of thecharacter described which will automatically load only completely andperfectly formed in-leads into packing cartridges.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in apparatus forautomatically loading in-leads endwise into packing cartridges, sortingmeans for discarding incompletely and imperfectly formed in-leads.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of a species thereof and from theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of apparatus comprising my invention; Fig. 2is a fragmentary plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on theline 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 ofFig. 2; Fig. 5 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a typical formof in-lead which the apparatus according to the invention is adapted toload into cartridges; Figs. 6-12 are fragmentary longitudinal sectionsthrough the different tray sorting apertures of the apparatus andshowing the operation of these apertures in sorting out and removingfrom the tray thevarious t pes of incompletely formed inleads'andindividual sections thereof which are apt to pass through the tray fromtime to time.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus there illustrated is of thetype shown in my. said 00- pending application Serial No. 610,153 andcomprising a slightly inclined vibrating pan or tray I which is adaptedto receive in-leads 2 as they are formed by awire-welding machine, forexample, such as that described and illustrated in U. S. Patent2,034,560, W. D. Bumstead, dated March 17, 1936. In the particular caseillustrated, the in-leads '2 are of the multi-section type comprising ashort central or seal portion 3 butt-welded to inner and outer leadportions 4 and 5, respectively. The inner lead portion 4 and the sealportion 3 are of smaller diameter than the outer lead portion or pin 5,and together constitute the small diameter section A of the in-lead. Theouter lead or pin 5, while of shorter length than the small diametersection A of the composite in-lead, is of comparatively larger diameterand I of greater weight than the section A so as to provide a weightedend to the composite in-lead 2, the balance point or center of gravityof the particular in-lead 2 illustrated being located approximately atthe juncture between the pin 5 and the seal portion 3 of the in-lead.The portions 3, 4 and 5 of the in-lead are electrically welded togetherwhile held in proper welding relation in vertically disposedwire-holding drums 6 of the welding machine. Upon completion, thein-leads 2 are carried by the subsequent rotational index of the spaceddrums 6 to a discharge position where they drop out of the transverseretaining grooves in the periphery of the drums and fall into a chute Iwhich delivers them into the elevated end of the slightly inclined trayI. The chute l is supported on a bracket 8 fastened to the table portion9 of the welding machine.

The trayl is mounted on the bed ID of the welding machine in such amanner as to be capable of a limited amount of vibrating movement whichmay be imparted thereto by suitable means such as a commercial typeelectro-magnetic vibrator II, all as shown and described in my saidcopending application. The in-leads 2 gradually travel or slide down thetray I, by reason of the vibration thereof, to the lowermost ordischarge end of the tray where they drop through apertures l2 in thetray bottom I3 and are guided by a collector chute I4 on the tray into apacking cartridge I5 which is positioned beneath the discharge end ofthe chute in a holder I6. Like the tray I, the holder I5 is'also mountedon the bed II] of the machine in such a way as to be capable of at leasta limited amount of vibrating movement which may be imparted thereto bythe same electro-magnetic vibrator II whichis I. Thus, there may becases where only two of the three parts of the in-lead 2 are weldedtogether, and there are even instances where none of the parts arewelded together;

In accordance with the invention,- sorting means I! are provided onthe-tray 1 forintercepting and discarding incompletely and imperfectlyformed in-leaM and individual parts" thereof, whereby only perfectin-leads 2 pass throughthe tray and are loaded-into the packingcartridges l5. As shown; the said sorting means" IT comprisesa seriesofside-by-side V-shaped" channelways or-grooves [3 extendinglongitudinally-of the tray i throughout an intermediate portion of itslength, through which channel-- ways the in-leads pass as they traveldown the tray towards its lowered end. While the channelways l8 maybeformed in the tray bottom 13" itself, theyare preferably formed by abuilt-up insert member l9 comprising a number of sections 20" (Fig; 4)of'hard' steel bolted'together and having their abuttingfaces properlygrooved or cut away to form, in combination, the channel'- ways 18. Asshown in Fig. 4 the smallV-channelways [8 are located at the bottoms oflargergrooves 2i of more or lesssemi-eylindrical'cross sections whichserve to direct back into the V-channelways "3- any in-leads which maybe jarred' out of" the same. have been bolted" together, thegroovedsurfa'ces of the insertmemb'er m are bufied to a high polish andthen chrome plated" so as to be free of any rough spots along the lineof juncture of the individual sections 20 such as mightotherwise catch"the in-leads 2 andinterrupt theirtravel through the channelways.

The channeled insert member i9 is mounted within an opening 22 (Figs; 3and 4) in the tray bottom 13 'and'itrests at each side on theportions-23 of the tray bottom which border'the sides ofthe opening22"as well as on the flaring sides 24 of the tray. The insert member18'' is suitably secured in place onthe tray, as by screws 25 As' shownin Fig; 3, the channeled insert member" 19 is positioned'within theopening 22 inthe tray bottom with its V-channelways i8 inclined in thesame direction as but to a lesser degree than the tray bottom 13' andwith the forward ends 25" of the V-channelways ofi'set downwardly andtherear ends 2'! offset upwardly with respect to the upper surface 28 ofthe traybottom so as not to present any obstructingshoulders at theentrances and exits of'the channelwayswhich would be apt tointerferewith therfreepassage'of thein--leads= 2 into and out of the channelwaysI8. 7

The in-leads 2 are: guided into the several i V-channelways 18' bycooperating pairs of guide walls 29' (Fig. 2)- which converge towardsthe respective channelways; These guide walls 29 areformed' by the sidewalls of extensions or fingers 30 which are providedonthe insert memher"[9 and which project from-the forward" end thereof in over-lyingrelation to andin engage- After the'sections 28' ment with the uppersurface 28 of the tray bottom i3. The two guide walls 29 of each finger30 converge forwardly and intersect to form pointed ends. To prevent anin-lead 2 from becoming positioned across and bridging the pointed endsof adjacent fingers 30 so as to block the pathzofentry intooneaofitheichannelways i8, alternate fingers 30 are"made of greaterlength than the intermediate fingers so as to locate their pointed ends3| further forwardly of the tray than the pointed .ends 3 I of theintermediat'eefingers. In addition, the advanced pointed ends 3! must bespaced laterally of the tray a distance slightly: greater than thelength of a perfect in-Iead-Z. seas to permit passage between the saidpointed end's'3l of a crosswise positioned iii-lead, With such; aconstruction, should an in-lead strike broadside against one of theadvanced'pointed ends 3|, it will be turned around and directed more orless lengthwise of the tray into the channelwayr'lt at either-siderohthesaid pointed end. Alternatively; if; an iir-lead 2;-v should passbetween; adjacenti advanced. pointed:

ends 3! ina position-morexor less: crosswise ofzther is provided with aplurality oii spaced elongated? sorting-apertures or slots-32;33:;alignedlongitudie nallywithin. each of the V channelways' 18;- intowhich apertures the defective in-leads' and: parts thereof dropduring.their passage: through the channelways; These-apertures 32'; .33" are of.different widths" and: lengths: so correlated to they dimensions oftheindividixahpartss 3,: t and" 5 of.

the-in-leads as-to causextheincompletely and imperfectly formedunloads:- to drop into; one orrthe.

other the X apertures without causing: the. per-' fectly:formedzin-leadsit'o drcpthereinto; T01: accomplish thisobjectiwherezthezimleads irate" of the particular. type illustratedhaving a short section: 5 of largerzdiameter and-ta .lDIlgfSECtiOIl' AL;

of smaller diameter" compcsed'pf a: short sealtlea'df 3 and along-innerlead't, atrleasttwo diiferentf sized apertures 32, 33 must beprovided withim each channelway: Oneaof: these: apertures- (31)must'havea;width greaterthan the diameter". of

the large diameter sectiorr 5- of the" in-lead; and;

a length greater than theyshortest balance arm- "a (Fig. 6) of the largediameter andiseal section" 5, 3*combinedbut lessathan theshortestzba'lance arm -e (Fig: 10) of a; perfect leadiwhichzwould';

causepver balancing thereof:- into-the sald'aper ture as it passes:thereover; Thar other. aper-sture'33 musthave a width less thanthediamet'er of' the large diameter section fi but' greaterrthan.thediameter'ofthe small diametensectlon'A of the in-lead; and alengthgreater thanhali the':

length of said small diameter section A but-lessthan theslongest balancearm flFig: 11) offa=per fect in-leadj which would" causeover halanclng:

thereoffintowthe -aperti1re33; small'idiameter endt" first. AsshowninwEig: 3, thecforward'iendsrof the:- upper: edgesgof"theaperturesmrslots: 32 332 areslightly rounded ch; as indicated at'3'4, tov iacili tate the over-balancing: thereintoof'the defective-- in-leads and parts thereof."

To more efiectivelyassure-=theeli'mination oi the defective in-leads andparts thereof; it is preferable to provide. twosorting aniez'tures: of

underneath the tray 1 in support brackets 36 fastened to the undersideof the tray bottom The operation of the sorting apertures '32, 33 Q inremoving the defective in-leads,g and parts thereof from the tray! isclearly illustrated in Figs. 6-12. Where an outer pin 5 alone (Fig. 8)or with only the seal portion 3 welded thereto (Fig. 6) enters one ofthe channelways] 8 itjoverbalances and drops into one or the other {ofthe shorter apertures 32 since this size ;;aperture 32 is wide enough toaccommodate the'l'arge diameter pin section 5 and, in addition, fitis'longer than the shortest balance arm a of thekdefective in-lead 3,5 (Fig. 6) or the balance arm -b ;of the pin 5 alone (Fig. 8). Where aseal portion 3 alone enters one of the channelways I3; such sealportion, being of shorter length and of smaller diameter than the outerpin 5, over-balances and drops either into one of the short apertures 32or into one of the long apertures 33. Where an inner lead 4 alone (Fig.9) or withonlythe seal portion 3 welded thereto (Fig. 7) enters one ofthe channelways l8, it will overbalance and drop into one or the otherof the long apertures 33 since this-size aperture 33 is wide enough toaccommodate the inner lead 4 and seal portion 3 and, in addition, islonger than either the balance arm 0 of the defective in-leacl 3, 4(Fig. 7) or the balance arm d of the inner lead 4 alone (Fig. 9).However, where a perfect or complete in-lead 2 enters one of thechannelways l8, it cannot over-balance into the shorter apertures 32(Fig. 10) for the reason that the length of such apertures 32 is lessthan that of the shortest balance arm e which would cause over-balancingof such a perfect in-lead into the said apertures 32. Likewise, such aperfect in-lead 2 will not overbalance into the longer apertures 33,Fig. 11. It cannot over-balance heavy or pin end-first into theapertures 33 because these apertures are of less width than the diameterof the pin end 5 of the in-lead and therefore will not accommodate suchend of the in-lead. On the other hand, a

perfect in-lead cannot overbalance small end first into the apertures 33(Fig. 11) for the reason that the length of these apertures is less thanthe longer balance arm 1 of the small diameter end of a perfect lead.

In addition to removing incompletely formed in-leads and parts thereoffrom thetray l, the sorting means I! according to the invention alsoserves to remove in-leads 2 that may have become bent at the sealportions 3 thereof. The force of gravity acting on such bent in-leads,while the latter are being shaken by the vibrating tray I causes thebent in-lead to travel through the channelway I8 in a position restingon its opposite ends, i. e., with its mid-section elevated, as shown inFig. 12. As a result, when such a bent in-lead travelling in suchposition through one of the channelways l8 reaches the aperture 32, thedown-turned forward supporting end of the in-lead drops into theaperture thus causing the entire in-lead to drop therethrough.

iii)

6v Because of the elimination of the incompletely and imperfectly formediii-leads by the'sorting means l1, there is no need for any visualinspection of the in-leads as they pass through the tray l. Thepackaging apparatus according to the invention therefore assures theautomatic loading of cartridges I5 with perfect in-leads only. The onlyremaining operation required of the operator is to periodically removethe filled packing catridges l5 from the holder l6 and position an emptycartridge beneath the loading chute H;

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is: 1. Article sorting apparatus for SOItiDgCOIIl pletely formedmulti-section in-leads, one end section of which is relatively short andof relatively large diameter and the other end section of which isrelatively long and of relatively small diameter, from imperfectlyformed in-leads and individual sections thereof, said apparatuscomprising an inclined elongated tray adapted to receive the articles atits raised end and vibratable to cause the articles to travel therealongtowards its lowermost end, and sorting means on said tray for removingtherefrom imperfectly formed in-leads and individual sections thereof,said sorting means comprising a channelway extending longitudinally ofthe tray through which the articles are guided in a position lengthwiseof the tray during their passage therealong, said tray having aplurality of elongated sorting apertures in its bottom extendinglengthwise of and aligned within said channelway and across which thearticles are guided during their passage through the channelway, one ofsaid apertures having a width greater than the diameter of the largediameter section of the in-lead and a length greater than half thelength of said large diameter section but less than the shortest balancearm of a perfect in-lead, and another of said apertures having a widthless than the diameter of said large diameter section but greater thanthe diameter of the small diameter section of the in-lead and a lengthgreater than half the length of said small diameter section but lessthan the longest balance arm'of a perfect in-lead.

2. Article sorting apparatus for sorting completely formed multi-sectionin-leads, one section of which is relatively short and of large diameterand the other section of which is relatively long and of small diameter,from imperfectly formed in-leads and individual sections thereof, saidapparatus comprising an inclined elongated tray adapted to receive thearticles at its raised end and vibratable to cause the articles totravel therealong toward its lowermost end, said tray having a pluralityof side-by-side channelways extending longitudinally of the tray on itsupper side through which the articles are guided in a positionlengthwise of the tray and in predetermined paths during their passagetherealong, said tray further having a plurality of elongated aperturesin its bottom located within each of said channelways and extendinglengthwise of and aligned within the respective channelways and acrosswhich the articles are guided during their passage through thechannelways, at least one of said apertures in each-channelway having awidth greater than the diameter of the large diameter section of thein-lead and a length greater than half the length of said large diametersection but less than the shortest balance arm of a perfect in-lead, andat least another of said apertures in each channelway having a widthless than the diameter of said large diameter section but greater'than:thealdlameterroffthesmal-l diameter section-of; the zinv-lead :and'a:length greater than half I thelengthnof. saidismall diameter sectionclout; less tharrthealonges-tibalanceyarm of a nertectin-lead, andiguide-walls on said tray for guiding theearticles-i; into thechannelways, the adjacent guide walls, of, adjacent channelwa-yaconverging. to-

wardsthei elevated end of the tray and inter-- secting to-formpointedends, alternate; ones of said pointed ends being located closerto the-elevatedlend of thetraythan the intermediate pointr ediends-andbeing spaced laterally of the tray a distanceslightlygreater'thanthelengthof said ,3. ,Ar1ticle sorting apparatus forsorting completely formed multi-section in-leads, one end seetiomofwhichis; relatively shortand-of relatively large diameter and the otherendsection of.

which isrelatively long and of relatively small diameter; fromimperfectly-formed in-leads and individuallsections thereof, saidapparatus comprising :an inclinedelongated tray adapted to receive; thearticles at its raised endand vibratable toacausethe articles to traveltherealong toward its,..lowermost end, a plurality of side-by-sidechannelways extending longitudinally of the tray onnits. upper sidethrough whichthe articles are guided a position lengthwise oi the trayandin predetermined paths during their passage .therealong, said trayhaving a plurality of elongated sorting apertures in its bottom locatedwithin each v o-flsaid channelways. andextending lengthwise of and.aligned within the respective-channelways and across which the articlesare guided during their passage through the channelways, at least one,of said apertures. in each channelway having aewidth greater thantherdiametenof the largm diameter section of the int-lead. anda=-length;- greater thanhalf-the length of said large diam eter. sectionbutless than theshortest balance. arm of a perfeotln-lead wherebyindividuallarge diameter sections'oi the in-leads 'overbalance into saidone aperture While completely formed in leads pass freely thereacross,and at leastanotherof said apertures each channelway having.

. w-idthdess than the-diameter of said large diam,

eter section but greater than the diameter of the. small.diametersectionof thejn-lead and alengthgreater than half thelengthaoflsaid small diam? eter section butlessl-than the :longestbalancejarm oflaperfect indeed-whereby individual, small iii-rametersectlonslof, the in-leads. overbalance into:-

said other. aperture while. completely formed inff leads pass freelythereacross.

CLARENCE nMcKmsEYi REFERENCES CITED.

The following. referencesare of record in; the:

file of this patent:

